Nature comments on the media

I saw a Northern Flicker this morning. According to my brand-new field guide (thanks employee discount and kindly officemate!) this is some sort of big woodpecker. I was alerted to its presence by what sounded like an impact wrench, and was, apparently, the bird pecking on the neighbor's satellite dish. heh.

This evening we will be attending the Ithaca Festival Parade. Unlike most parades, this one doesn't involve fire trucks, politicians, marching bands, or any form of suck. The Ithaca Festival is a big townie party held the weekend after the Cornell students go home. "Woo Hoo!" quoth the locals, "We can finally find a parking spot!" And a parade is had.